Coughing is not really a disease in itself, however, it could be a sign of certain medical conditions. Coughing is basically a instinctive reflex action or a mechanism that our body employs for expelling the foreign substances that may be irritating the airways. In fact, the production of mucus is another protection mechanism that is used for the same purpose. However, persistent or chronic cough could be caused due to certain ailments and must not be taken casually. Chronic cough or violent coughing are generally indicative of respiratory tract infections, but it's possible that there may be a connection between coughing and heart diseases. Scroll down to find out how coughing may be a sign of a heart ailment.
Can Coughing be Caused due to a Heart Disease?
More often than not, coughing is experienced by those suffering from upper or lower respiratory tract infections. Before the lungs can actually carry out the function of exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, the air that we inhale, passes through the components of the respiratory system such as the nasal passage, pharynx, larynx, windpipe and the bronchial tubes. These respiratory organs could get inflamed if we inhale irritants such as dust, chemicals, fumes, or disease causing microbes. The immune system may get stimulated, and the body may try to expel irritants along with mucus by the reflex action of coughing.
So, what does coughing have to do with the functioning of the heart? Well, the organ systems of the body work collectively, and the respiratory system does work in tandem with the circulatory system, of which the heart is definitely a key organ. Well, the heart is the pumping organ, that supplies deoxygenated blood to the lungs, and the oxygen-enriched blood from the lungs is then carried by the blood vessels to various parts of the body. If the heart's pumping capacity is affected by any ailment, the lungs may become congested. Fluid in lungs and heart may give rise to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or wheezing.
Coughing and Heart Failure
To understand how coughing and heart diseases may be linked, one must first understand how the heart works. The human heart comprises of four chambers. The upper and lower chambers on the right and left side of the heart are referred to as the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle. The left atrium receives the oxygen-rich blood through the pulmonary veins. This is followed by opening of the mitral valve, and the blood is then carried into the left ventricle. It is through the left ventricle that the oxygenated blood is carried to the various parts of the body. On the other hand, oxygen deficient blood is carried by the inferior vena cava and superior vena cava to the right atrium. The tricuspid valve opens to facilitate the passage of blood into the right ventricle. The pulmonary artery carries the blood into the lungs, wherein it gets oxygenated and is again carried to the left side of the heart. When the chambers of the heart fail to pump the blood properly, one is said to suffer from a congestive heart failure.
Weakening of the myocardium or the heart muscle due to coronary artery disease is one of the most common causes of congestive heart failure. Coronary heart disease is characterized by limited flow of blood to the heart due to the accumulation of arterial plaque. While this causes the heart muscle to weaken, thereby increasing the risk of congestive heart failure, thickening of the heart muscle due to high blood pressure can also cause the same effect. Coronary artery disease also increases the risk of a heart attack. A heart attack is a life-threatening condition wherein the blockage of a coronary artery causes damage to a part of the heart muscle. Shortness of breath, persistent cough, chest pain, wheezing and edema are the characteristic symptoms of congestive heart failure.
Left-sided heart failure is a type of congestive heart failure that causes pulmonary congestion, which in turn, gives rise to coughing. In case of a person suffering from left-sided heart failure, the left ventricle is unable to pump blood. This causes blood to flow back into the left atrium. The blood is then carried by the pulmonary veins into the lungs. This causes pulmonary congestion. The air sacs wherein the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place, get filled with fluid, and this interferes with the lung function. Coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath are the common symptoms of pulmonary congestion. ACE inhibitors are a class of drugs that are used for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure. It is believed that chronic cough in adults may be caused due to the use of these drugs.
This was some information on the possible connection between coughing and heart diseases. While bouts of coughing may be associated with respiratory tract infections, allergies, asthma or lung conditions, in some cases, congestive heart failure may actually be responsible for causing chronic cough. Those who do experience symptoms such as coughing and heart pain every now and then, must therefore get a thorough medical checkup done.
Can Coughing be Caused due to a Heart Disease?
More often than not, coughing is experienced by those suffering from upper or lower respiratory tract infections. Before the lungs can actually carry out the function of exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, the air that we inhale, passes through the components of the respiratory system such as the nasal passage, pharynx, larynx, windpipe and the bronchial tubes. These respiratory organs could get inflamed if we inhale irritants such as dust, chemicals, fumes, or disease causing microbes. The immune system may get stimulated, and the body may try to expel irritants along with mucus by the reflex action of coughing.
So, what does coughing have to do with the functioning of the heart? Well, the organ systems of the body work collectively, and the respiratory system does work in tandem with the circulatory system, of which the heart is definitely a key organ. Well, the heart is the pumping organ, that supplies deoxygenated blood to the lungs, and the oxygen-enriched blood from the lungs is then carried by the blood vessels to various parts of the body. If the heart's pumping capacity is affected by any ailment, the lungs may become congested. Fluid in lungs and heart may give rise to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or wheezing.
Coughing and Heart Failure
To understand how coughing and heart diseases may be linked, one must first understand how the heart works. The human heart comprises of four chambers. The upper and lower chambers on the right and left side of the heart are referred to as the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle. The left atrium receives the oxygen-rich blood through the pulmonary veins. This is followed by opening of the mitral valve, and the blood is then carried into the left ventricle. It is through the left ventricle that the oxygenated blood is carried to the various parts of the body. On the other hand, oxygen deficient blood is carried by the inferior vena cava and superior vena cava to the right atrium. The tricuspid valve opens to facilitate the passage of blood into the right ventricle. The pulmonary artery carries the blood into the lungs, wherein it gets oxygenated and is again carried to the left side of the heart. When the chambers of the heart fail to pump the blood properly, one is said to suffer from a congestive heart failure.
Weakening of the myocardium or the heart muscle due to coronary artery disease is one of the most common causes of congestive heart failure. Coronary heart disease is characterized by limited flow of blood to the heart due to the accumulation of arterial plaque. While this causes the heart muscle to weaken, thereby increasing the risk of congestive heart failure, thickening of the heart muscle due to high blood pressure can also cause the same effect. Coronary artery disease also increases the risk of a heart attack. A heart attack is a life-threatening condition wherein the blockage of a coronary artery causes damage to a part of the heart muscle. Shortness of breath, persistent cough, chest pain, wheezing and edema are the characteristic symptoms of congestive heart failure.
Left-sided heart failure is a type of congestive heart failure that causes pulmonary congestion, which in turn, gives rise to coughing. In case of a person suffering from left-sided heart failure, the left ventricle is unable to pump blood. This causes blood to flow back into the left atrium. The blood is then carried by the pulmonary veins into the lungs. This causes pulmonary congestion. The air sacs wherein the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place, get filled with fluid, and this interferes with the lung function. Coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath are the common symptoms of pulmonary congestion. ACE inhibitors are a class of drugs that are used for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure. It is believed that chronic cough in adults may be caused due to the use of these drugs.
This was some information on the possible connection between coughing and heart diseases. While bouts of coughing may be associated with respiratory tract infections, allergies, asthma or lung conditions, in some cases, congestive heart failure may actually be responsible for causing chronic cough. Those who do experience symptoms such as coughing and heart pain every now and then, must therefore get a thorough medical checkup done.
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